Assigstoe



July 3, 1928. 1,675,440

c. F. WRIGHT IIECKANISII FOR ASSEMBLING HATCH STRIPS F d Ju Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES E NT ()F Fl CE CHARLES F. WRIGHT, 0F AKRON, QHIO, AssrGNoR-To' THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPAN OF NEWYO'RK; N'. Y.', A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MECHANISM FOR ASS'EMBLING' MATCH STRIPS.

=Applie'ation filed- July 1", 1927. SeriarNo. 202,783.

This invention relates to mechanismfor assembling match strips; havingreference more especially to-m'eehanism for intercept ing strips of matches astheyaredischa'rged from a match making machine and arranging them in an "orderly manner, with the strips alternately reversed asnespects' 'the heads of the matches, which-strips are-intended "to be subdividedinto' sections of proper size'for use -in the manufacture of matchbooks.

In the preferred embodiment'of my invention herein il1usti'ated'-the match strips are ejected in succeeding pairs'from a match making machine and the paired strips are alternately reversed and "assembled i-n-sueh manner as to"facilitate their introduction in a suitable holder for subsequent transference to the match-Strip supply magazine, for example; of a machine for making-' mat chbooks.

My inventioncomprises, in combination with a source of'supply of match-strips in succeeding pairs; a pendant gu-ide' element to which the successive pairs ofimatcli strips are delivered in a-substantiallyhOrizontal position, =Ineans arranged to 1 intercept the successive pairs of match Strips,- oppositely tilt the pairs 'inalternation and direct them to'= a' substantially vertical "pesition for gravitation through the guide element, with their heads pointing in opposite directions, and a collecting element-arranged to receive thepppositely-dispdsed pairsof'stripsin suc- CGSSlOIL- I he invention also comprises novel features of construction and combinations 'of parts, all of which will=be=hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention then be defined-in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a-longitudinal vertical-section of match-strip assembling mechanism" embodying my invention, showing its relation to the discharge station of a matclr'ma'ki'hg machine. f

Fig; 2 is -a*transverse=vertical-section,"as on the line 2-2 'of Fi'g;1.

Figs. 3, 4, 5'and fi'aresections of the upper end, of the vertical strip-guiding chute showing the striptiltmg member in various positions.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a portion of the travelling endless carri'er of hearings in the ends ofthe chute. one end of the shaft 23.is an arm '24'hav1'ng a r'na'chine for-making match strips; and 11 designates the cam-actuated punch head operative-to eject from the carrier, atthe dis charge station of the machine,- the match strlps 12 horizontally in successive pairs. At this station the longitudinal side links of the carrier are suitablyguided vertically, which links are formed, as usual, with rack teeth-13 in mesh with gear wheels'l ifast on a continuously driven. transverse shaft 15 having its bearings in brackets located at the res ective sides of the frame structure.

upported adjacent the discharging sta tion by means, for example, of arms or brackets 16, is a vertically-disposedguide structure comprising, preferably, a'chute 17 whereof the back wall terminates below the punches to permit the horizontal passage IIIKO the upper portion of thec-hut-e Of'BaCh succeeding pair of match strips as they are ejected from the carrier by-the punch head.

This chute'depends below the l'ower-run-"of the carrier and overhangs a-col-lectingelement comprising, preferably, apair of conveyer belts 19, whiclrpas's about pulleys 20 mounted on ashaft 21 having its bearings in brackets on the main frame.

The chute is preferably of tapering formation from its upperto its 'lower end; andis-of such'internal cross-section at its dipper end as to permit the entry therein of match strips in substantially horizontal: position, 'One superposed on the other,--and is -of-such crosssectionatits low-enend as to permit the free dischargein a substantially vertical or edgevvise position, of the strips from the chute to the underlying conveyer, as shown.

In the upper portion-of'thechute, in a plane =imniediately below the path of discharge of the match strips fromthe carrier 10, is" a'- vibratorystrip-reversing element comprising, preferably,- a plate 22 of less width anddength than-the mouth' of the chute, carried by a rock-shaft 23-having its Fast on a-roll 25" which extends into the undulating cam groove 26"of a face cam27 secured to and 'rotatable'with the driven shaft 15; The

C'Ontour'of' the cam 'gr'oove'26 is such that'as each succeedingpair of match strips are ejected from the'carrier 10 by the punch head 11 the'arm 24:, and therewith the shaft 23 and plate 22-, are rockedin' a manner to swing the plate to a slanting position, either to the right or to the left; that is to say, as one pair of strips are ejected from the carrier and alight on the plate the latter is tilted to the position indicated in Fig. 3, thereby directing the strips, heads downward, to the left hand side of the chute, and as the next succeeding pair of strips are ejected and alight on the plate the plate is oppositely tilted to occupy the position indicated in Fig. 6, thereby directing the strips, heads upward, to the right hand side of the chute. Hence the pairs of match strips are alternately reversed as respects the heads of the matches, and in this condition the strips gravitate to the foot of the chute and strike the upper runs of the travelling belts, the lower end of the outer wall of the chute 17 being open or cut away, as at 28, to permit the succeeding pairs of strips to be carried away from the chute by the conveyer belts.

It is to be noted that in each movement of the rapidly oscillating plate 22 to a tilted position, either to the right or left, the pair of match strips thereon are positioned with their heads or their marginal edges against one or the other side wall of the chute, as seen in Figs. 8 and 6, and that as the tilted plate returns to its normal position the strips are swung upward to a substantially vertical position since the opposing wall ot the chute affords a fulcrum for the headed ends or marginal edges of the strips, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5. The rapid action of the tilt ing device is of distinct advantage, since it tends positively to project the strips down the chute.

The speed of the conveyor is in such timed relation to the successive ejecting strokes of the punch head 11 and the oscillatory motion of the reversing plate 22, that the match strips are positioned in close relation upon the upper runs of the conveyor, as seen in Fig. 1, which condition facilitates their manual removal and assembly in approximately measured quantities, whereof the heads of the matches of alternate pairs of strips are oppositely disposed.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular construction herein disclosed, as the apparatus may be modified within the principle of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim- 1. The combination with means for supplying match strips, and means for ejecting successive pairs of match strips therefrom, of a pendant guide element to which the match strips are delivered in a substantially horizontal position, means arranged to intercept the successive pairs of match strips, oppositely tilt the alternate pairs and direct them to a substantially vertical position for gravitation with their heads in opposite directions, and a collecting element which receives the oppositely-disposed pairs of strips.

2. The combination with means for supplying match strips, and means for ejecting s successive pairs of match strips therefrom, ot a pendant guide element to which the match strips are delivered in a substantially horizontal position, means arranged to intercept the successive pairs of match strips, oppositely tilt the alternate pairs and direct them to a substantially vertical position for gravitation with their heads in opposite directions, and a travelling conveyor which receives the oppositely-disposed pairs of strips.

3. The combination with means for supplying match strips, and means for ejecting successive pairs of match strips therefrom, of a pendant guide element to which the match strips are delivered in a substantially horizontal position, a vibratory member arranged to intercept the successive pairs of match strips, means for vibrating said member to tilt the pairs of match strips and direct them to a substantially vertical position for gravitation with their heads in opposite directions, and a collecting element which receives the oppositely-disposed pairs of strips.

4:. The combination with means for supplying match strips, and means for ejecting successive pairs of match strips therefrom, of a pendant tapering guide chute to which the match strips are delivered in a substantially horizontal position, means arranged to intercept the successive pairs of match strips, oppositely tilt the alternate pairs and direct them to a substantially vertical position for gravitation with their heads in opposite directions, and a collecting element which receives the oppositely-disposed pairs of strips.

5. The combination with means for supplying match strips, and means for ejecting successive pairs of match strips therefrom, of a pendant tapering guide chute to which the match strips are delivered in a substantially horizontal position, means arranged to intercept the successive pairs of match strips, oppositely tilt the alternate pairs and direct them to a substantially vertical position for gravitation with their heads in opposite directions, and a travelling conveyer which receives the oppositely-disposed pairs of strips.

6. The combination with means for supplying match strips, and means for ejecting sucessive pairs of match strips therefrom, of a pendant tapering guide chute to which the match strips are delivered. in a substantially horizontal position, a vibratory member arranged to intercept the successive pairs of match strips, means for vibrating said memher to tilt the pairs of match strips and direct them to a substantially vertical position for gravitation with their heads in opposite directions, and a collecting element which receives the oppositely-disposed pairs of strips.

7. The combination with means for supplying match strips, and means for ejecting successive pairs of match strips therefrom, of a pendant guide element to which the match strips are delivered in a substantially horizontal position, a vibratory member arranged to intercept the successive pairs of match strips, means including an undulating cam for vibrating said member to tilt the pairs of match strips and direct them to a substantially vertical position for gravitation with their heads in opposite directions, and a travelling conveyer which receives the oppositely-disposed pairs of strips.

Signed at Barberton in the county of Summit and State of Ohio this 29 day of June, A. D. 1927.

CHARLES F. WRIGH T. 

